Exodus 34:5-9 - Homilies By J. Urquhart

The Manifestation of God.

I. GOD 'S GLORY VEILED THAT IT MAY BE REVEALED . "The Lord descended in the cloud." The glory of Jesus was veiled by his humanity. There is but one avenue through which the knowledge of God can come—the spirit; it cannot come by the senses. God reveals himself by a word, by one in whom he has put his name, and by the Spirit's unveiling of the word in the heart.

II. GOD 'S NAME .

1 . Faithfulness: he proclaimed " JEHOVAH ." He changes not, his purpose abides, his word is fulfilled.

2 . Faithfulness and might. "Jehovah, Elohim." God's power waits upon his unchanging purpose.

3 . "Merciful." He will not spurn need. He is moved by, and drawn to, it.

4 . "Gracious." God is not merely a just master, bestowing rewards which have been earned. There is favour to be found with him, unmerited and free.

5 . "Long-suffering." He is patient with blindness and weakness and sin. He waits to be gracious. The great husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and "hath long patience for it."

6 . "Abundant in goodness and truth." The ages have been unveiling their fulness; but the story is not yet told. Eternity will never know all the length and breadth and depth and height.

7 . The largeness of God's mercy

8 . The severity of God.

III. THE FRUITS OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD .

1 . Adoration. For deep and true worship the soul must know God in the reality of his existence and the glory of his nature.

2 . Prayer for himself and his people. To Jesus the vision of God is intercession for his Church and the world.